Enlightenment Thinkers, Values, and Historical Impact

Reason

Core Enlightenment value.

Nature

Core Enlightenment value.

Thomas Hobbes

Believed people are naturally wicked; supported strong government to maintain order.

John Locke

Advocated for natural rights and government by consent; influenced the U.S. Constitution and social contract theory.

Montesquieu

Promoted separation of powers and checks and balances.

Voltaire

Championed freedom of speech, religious tolerance, and separation of church and state.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Argued government is a contract between rulers and the people; emphasized mutual protection.

Mary Wollstonecraft

Early advocate for women's rights; wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.

Immanuel Kant

Encouraged independent thinking over blind obedience.

Happiness

Core Enlightenment value.

Progress

Core Enlightenment value.

Liberty

Core Enlightenment value.

Navigation Acts (1651)

Restricted colonial trade; imposed high taxes on foreign goods.

French and Indian War

Britain expected colonists to help pay war debts, leading to 'No taxation without representation.'

American Revolution

Sparked by Enlightenment ideals and perceived violations of the social contract.

Articles of Confederation

Created a weak central government with limited powers.

U.S. Constitution

Incorporated Enlightenment principles like checks and balances and separation of powers.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments guaranteeing basic rights.

Beethoven

Known for Symphony No. 9.

Bach

German composer and teacher.

Mozart

Influential classical composer.

Francisco Goya

Spanish romantic painter.

Eugène Delacroix

Leader of French romantic school.

Miguel Cervantes

Wrote the first European novel.

Nicolaus Copernicus

Proposed heliocentric theory.

Johannes Kepler

Developed laws of planetary motion.

William Harvey

Explained blood circulation.

John Locke vs. King James I

Locke: Government must be based on consent; opposed absolute monarchy.

King James I

Believed in divine right of kings; likened kings to gods and heads of the body.

Critique of James

His reasoning assumes moral behavior from all kings, ignoring abuses of power.

Colonists' Criticism of Stamp Act

Due to lack of representation.

Enlightenment's Impact

Inspired the rejection of monarchy and the push for democratic governance.

Salons

Allowed women to discuss ideas and literature.

Enlightenment Transformation

Encouraged logic and reason to improve society.

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